Marti Gould Cummings
MELISSA WHITLER | NBCU Fellow
Melissa@DallasVoice.com
This weekend drag icon Marti Gould Cummings is flying from New York to come celebrate pride in the South, joining host Liquor Mini at Fly Queens Drag Brunch on Sunday, April 13. The show includes Zimora Evans, Lechè Diamanté and Candi Stratton, with music by DJ Al Farb.
This won’t be Cummings’ first time in Texas, but it has been a few years since they have visited Dallas. They are really good friends with Liquor Mini, who has been very supportive in getting Cummings to Texas. The two have previously worked together on VACAYA Cruises.
“I’m excited to get to work with people I have not worked with before,” the New Yorker told Dallas Voice ahead of their trip to DFW. “It’s so important to create these safe spaces in the South and celebrate queerness.”
The second time Cummings ever performed in Dallas, coincidentally, ended up being the weekend the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on same-sex marriage in 2015. “It was an amazing thing to witness,” they recalled. “People took to the streets and celebrated. It was living proof that we must stand strong.”
Round-Up Saloon is also one of Cummings’ favorite. When they were here six years ago, they recalled, dancing at the Round-Up, and “a big ol’ cowboy swooped me up and asked, ‘Do you want to dance little lady?’ I’m excited to do stuff like that while I’m in Dallas,” said Cummings.
Cummings has been doing drag since they were 19, before they were aware of their non-binary identity. “When I first started, there wasn’t the terminology we have today,” Cummings explained. “I knew there was something different about me, and even when I came out as gay, I felt like there was a missing piece. Drag played a big part in building my confidence and helping me live authentically.”
They described drag as an art form for everyone, saying, “There are so many varieties, all these different ways of doing it. It’s an opportunity for people of all diverse backgrounds to express themselves.”
Cummings’ own style of drag is heavily influenced by Broadway, and they often will sing live. They also love dancing and playing up the comedic parts of drag when hosting.
In addition to drag, Cummings has also been very active in advocating for LGBTQ rights.
They were the first openly nonbinary candidate to run for office in New York City and the first drag artist to be invited to moderate a panel at The United Nations. “It’s so important, especially in conservative areas, to provide a safe space for LGBTQ people and let them know there is someone out there fighting for them,” Cummings said, specifically pointing to the work of Equality Texas.
Make sure you don’t miss Marti Gould Cummings’ performance at the Fly Queens Drag Brunch at Mesa Mezcal on Sunday. The show begins at 1 p.m. and will also feature Liquor Mini, Candi Stratton, Lechè Diamanté, and Zimora Evans. Tickets are available online. ■
For information on the Fly Queens Drag Brunch and tickets to the brunch featuring Marti Gould Cummings visit EventBrite.com.